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How to Budget for a Backyard Fire Pit and Patio

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How to Budget for a Backyard Fire Pit and Patio

Turn your yard into an extra room without draining your savings, using a smart timeline and a 0% interest window.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $2,500 before anything else
Across the 0% window $138.89/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $2,500 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You are trading cramped weekends inside for an outdoor room that actually gets used once the sun goes down. A solid fire pit and patio seating area completely changes how you use your yard, turning dead grass into the spot where everyone wants to hang out. The actual work of digging, pouring, and setting stone usually takes a long weekend once the materials arrive.

Late summer or fall is the absolute best time to buy patio furniture and line up contractors, because retailers are clearing space for winter inventory and landscapers are slowing down. Before you hand over any deposit, get at least three distinct quotes from local pros so you know what the job actually costs in your zip code.

Keep in mind that 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening is a deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance left when those 18 months are up, the remaining amount gets hit with standard interest rates fast.

The steps

  1. 01

    Get multiple quotes

    Call at least three local landscapers or masons to price out the stone pad and fire pit build. Contractors are often more negotiable in the fall when their peak summer rush cools down.

  2. 02

    Hunt for furniture sales

    Shop for your chairs and loungers in late summer or fall when stores slash prices to clear out outdoor inventory. Buying off-season saves you hundreds on the exact same sectional you looked at in June.

  3. 03

    Map out the total cost

    Add up the quotes for labor, stone, the fire pit insert, and the furniture. For a typical $2500 project, you want a clear picture of every dollar before you buy a single bag of gravel.

  4. 04

    Set up your payment window

    Put the expenses on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, which gives you 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. If you spread the $2500 cost across that intro window on purchases, you get payments of about $138.89 per month.

  5. 05

    Schedule the build

    Lock in your contractor dates for the cooler fall months so you can actually enjoy the fire pit right away. Good weather makes curing mortar and laying pavers much easier.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

How much does a backyard fire pit and patio cost?

A typical setup runs about $2500 for a paved seating area, a basic fire pit, and comfortable furniture. If you hire a mason for custom stonework, the price goes up fast.

When is the best time to buy patio furniture?

Late summer and fall are the cheapest months to buy outdoor furniture. Retailers need the floor space for winter holiday displays, so they mark down sectionals and chairs.

How long does it take to build a patio seating area?

The physical labor usually takes a long weekend if you hire a crew or tackle it yourself with rented equipment. Waiting on material delivery and contractor scheduling takes a bit longer.

What happens if I don't pay off the Citi Simplicity card in 18 months?

Any money you still owe when the 18 months end will start accruing standard interest. Make sure your monthly payments cover the full balance before the clock runs out.